Chapter 326

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Wei Minzhi merely muttered a couple of words in her heart, then focused even more on these books.

Knowledge is money. After several years of the End of Days, Wei Minzhi had long understood the essence of striving to live: relying on her own skills to earn a living.

Clatter—

The books in her hands were flipped through until the edges frayed; Wei Minzhi studied diligently whenever she had the chance, and her zeal for learning directly shocked the whole family.

Shen Yao:...

The moment she could go out, Shen Yao quickly signed up for her spot.

After getting the confirmed class start time, Shen Yao also put effort into finding several decent internal materials for Wei Minzhi, so she could learn more.

No one will forever cover for others; being one's own backing is the best way out.

As the New Year approached, the family, now in a new residence, ate delicious food, raised their cups, and celebrated the new journey they had begun.

…………

"Wei Chengyan, you skipped school again," Wei Minzhi said, rubbing his head as she led her listless great-nephew back from school, pondering in her heart how to report him this time.

This brat relied on his own abilities to fear nothing, sneaking out of school time and again; if his grades weren't truly excellent enough to make people turn a blind eye, the school teachers would have filed who knows how many complaints.

Feeling that although she wasn't married, she was tormented to death by a child, staying up two years at night was nothing at all.

Sigh

Her head felt heavy; Wei Minzhi sighed and sighed again, truly not knowing what to say.

Perhaps this was the destructive power of children—clearly they were other people's children to outsiders, but only one's own family knew the truth at home; their talent for causing trouble was first-rate.

"Auntie, this time mutant beasts appeared outside Hope City; I just went to take a look," he hadn't intended to do anything, let alone cause trouble, he truly felt wronged.

Wei Chengyan defended himself, especially since this time he hadn't intended to do anything, just went to join the liveliness; who would have thought that not only did he fail to join the liveliness, but he was caught red-handed.

If it hadn't been his aunt who came to pick him up, Wei Chengyan wouldn't even be able to speak now, let alone have a chance to defend himself.

"Take a look? So what did you see? Several cities outside have had incidents because of mutant beasts, and you, a little child, still dare to go join in."

Wei Minzhi reached out and tapped Wei Chengyan's little head, nearly angry to death.

This was a capable brat; his destructive power was no small matter.

Wei Chengyan puffed his cheeks upon hearing this, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles."

"These mutant beasts won't let it rest; Hope City outside has official defenses, and I went to observe, also hoping to contribute a portion when the time comes."

He had special abilities and had been exceptionally recruited to serve the officials.

Although Wei Chengyan was only fifteen now, his tall stature and body full of strength did not look like a normal half-grown child at all, but rather like a warrior who had undergone professional training.

Based on his special abilities, besides going to school every day, Wei Chengyan went to official training, and occasionally had to go on missions with official personnel.

If it weren't for Wei Mingyu, his biological father, being there, Shen Yao would absolutely not let Wei Chengyan go out no matter what; it was simply too dangerous outside.

"Did you forget what your mother said? You still dare to observe; I see you've grown a fat gall."

Wei Minzhi scolded Wei Chengyan, her words implying that Wei Chengyan was disobedient; if something really happened, what would the family do? The adults of Hope City hadn't all died yet; how could they let a half-grown child go risk his life?

Wei Chengyan shrugged his shoulders and no longer continued to defend himself on this matter.

He walked two quick steps, put his arm around Wei Minzhi's shoulder, and begged her in a low, gentle voice to keep it secret for him; he absolutely could not speak the truth.

Wei Minzhi:...

Wei Minzhi rolled her eyes, looking at the bus stop getting closer and closer to them, then turned to pat Wei Chengyan's shoulder, "So you know fear?" She almost thought this child feared nothing.

Wei Chengyan hehe laughed, "Auntie, I just want to protect you all."

Mutant beasts were a new product appearing after the natural disaster, having the bodies of wild beasts and super-strong aggression, very unfriendly to humans and other animals.

According to what Wei Chengyan knew, nowadays cities around the periphery of Huaguo all had examples of being attacked by mutant beasts.

The most serious were several edge cities, including Rimu City where they once lived, which didn't escape either; the entire city was severely destroyed, the population shrank, and they had to move and flee.

Hope City was located at the outermost edge of the Southwest Highlands; there weren't many mutant beasts gathered around it, and currently no reliable beast tide offensive had formed.

But the people of Hope City couldn't not prepare; mutant beasts were very strong; once mutant beasts broke through the outermost defense line, apart from the uptown districts, everything would fall into a passive position.

When Wei Chengyan trained initially, he had been reminded that Hope City's defense line was Hope City's top priority; they these people must firmly guard it.

"Rest assured, there are official people; besides, you want to protect us, but you must also take care of yourself," Wei Minzhi reached out and rubbed Wei Chengyan's head, "Go home with Auntie; Grandfather and Grandmother must be worried."

Wei Father and Wei Mother still didn't know what Wei Chengyan had done; otherwise the two old people would probably be frightened into a racing heart, how could there be such a stimulating person.

The bus stopped; the two lined up to board, found a seat, and sat down to rest.

Nowadays inside Hope City they still relied on public transportation for travel, only the fuel used had changed, just like the mineral vein discovered in Rimu City.

The bus was very fast; even if there were stops along the way, returning home to the suburbs took no more than half an hour.

After several years of development, the suburbs had changed in scale; the most noticeable was that the original houses had become farms, and family-style small workshops had become studios.

Wei Minzhi's efforts in learning were reflected in the breeding business before her eyes.

Upon entering the door was a row of elevated nests, inside which were raised over a hundred chickens, ducks, and geese; just selling chicken, duck, and goose eggs every day was an income.

"Wei Factory Director" "Wei Factory Director"

Wei Minzhi nodded, maintaining her factory director aura with restraint. Wei Chengyan followed behind Wei Minzhi, stepping lightly into the room.

"You all go ahead and be busy; after work today, you can take whatever you want to exchange," Wei Minzhi raised her hand, directly giving the workers the highest permission.

Working on her side, wages were settled daily and there were specialty products; usually some leftover sheep milk and cow milk were given, and on holidays there were meat and eggs.

Today was neither a festival nor a holiday; logically only ordinary cow and sheep milk could be collected, but Wei Minzhi directly opened her mouth, meaning other supplies could also be exchanged.

Ai yo wei, this is not bad; taking the daily wages and still being able to exchange several jin of meat to take back.

A few people voiced their thanks to the boss; it sounded a bit cloying, yet no one tired of it, because pleasant words are just that simple and unadorned.

Wei Minzhi waved her hand again, signaling them to get on with their own tasks — she still had other things to attend to and didn't feel like chatting for now.

The wedding guests read the room and fell silent, turning back to busy themselves with the work at hand.

They were all villagers living in the surroundings; every household could trace a connection or two. Envy and jealousy existed in their hearts, but it didn't amount to hatred.

At most they'd grumble vaguely a couple of sentences; they couldn't bring themselves to do anything else.

Sure enough, seeing Wei Minzhi walking off in hurried steps, idle gossip had already made its way over.

"Boss, what's happened? You're all flustered — completely unlike your usual self."

"What could happen? She lives better than us; just get on with the work."

"..."

In the end Wei Minzhi didn't tell Wei Chengyan's matter, instead using a tactic — skirting the important points and telling only half.

Of course, this couldn't fool Shen Yao; the system, that big mouth, loves nothing more than a lively scene, and in Shen Yao's eyes Wei Chengyan has no secrets at all.

But since nothing had happened and Wei Mingyu was also there, Shen Yao rolled her eyes at Wei Chengyan and merely made him stay home honestly these few days and not go out.

"Official personnel are coming to collect livestock these two days; you help keep watch," their family would move to the uptown before the mutant beasts attack the city, and the breeding farm's livestock could only be sold off.

Wei Chengyan scratched his chin. "Sell all of them?"

"Sell most, keep only enough for us to eat," Shen Yao tapped her wrist. "The uptown apartment isn't big; it can't hold too much stuff."

Their move to the uptown counts as refuge; they don't plan to live there permanently.

Having said the matter simply, she glanced at the time again, and Shen Yao drove to pick up Wei Chengning and Wei Chengen from school.

Wei Chengyan belonged to the category of skipping class and returning home early; for the next few days he wouldn't need to attend school, treatment different from Wei Chengning and Wei Chengen.

But Shen Yao likewise requested a long leave of absence for Wei Chengning and Wei Chengen.

Fortunately, children asking for leave at school were not a few; everyone had information channels, and no one dared to gamble.

When they arrived home Wei Mingyu was off work, wearing a tightly wrapped work uniform, a Hope City weapon at his waist — a freshly produced firearm from the laboratory.

"You managed to bring it back — is the situation outside not good?" Normally weapons aren't permitted to be taken home, unless things have already become serious to a certain degree.

"Mutant beast movements are obvious; the officials estimate they'll take action," Wei Mingyu touched the firearm, giving a not-at-all-optimistic assessment.

They definitely can't really wait for mutant beasts to show up at the door; the officials plan to take the initiative, first resolving the outer circle of mutant beasts with thunderous force, then considering farther places.

Wei Mingyu's meaning was to send them to the uptown first; he would handle the suburban breeding farm.

Wei Mother anxiously tugged Wei Mingyu's arm. "Can you manage on your own?"

With no one to help, with this many livestock at the breeding farm, who knows how long Wei Mingyu would be busy.

"Sent word to the officials; they'll collect here first," as long as it can be sold, giving a preferential price isn't out of the question.

Wei Father pulled Wei Mother away. "Don't talk about these things; let's pack up what we can take," at the very least they couldn't hold Wei Mingyu back.

Wei Mother let out an "oh" at those words, then waved her hand to call Wei Minzhi and Wei Chengyan over. "All of you, work."

Quick, no resting — after these chickens, ducks, and geese are killed they still need plucking; it's all trivial labor.

The family moved at Wei Mother's summons, including Wei Mingyu who didn't rest either — he first walked a circle around the house, plugging some gaps that weren't problems normally but were shortcomings and vulnerabilities.

Of course, this couldn't achieve much effect; mutant beasts have high attack, high defense, and are hard to kill — if they really break in, these iron wires and energy grids are completely useless, only serving a better-than-nothing role.

Wei Mingyu finished his inspection circle, and when he returned he saw the front courtyard bustling with heat and noise.

The corpses of killed chickens, ducks, and geese were piled into a heap, stacked high; beside them, in the heated hot water, fresh chicken, duck, and goose feathers flew chaotically without cease.

Wei Mingyu walked over to help, picked up a kitchen knife, and against the chickens', ducks', and geese's heads and feet went chop-chop-chop until only the bodies with innards removed remained.

The refrigerator's internal space had already been cleared out, to hold these fresh meats.

Today's weather isn't hot, but for the meat to preserve long-term it still needs freezing treatment.

The family of several busied until evening, finally finishing processing the chickens, ducks, and geese in hand.

As for those remaining pigs, cattle, and sheep in the back courtyard, Wei Mother decreed they'd all be sold.

Sell them then; just looking at the processed chickens, ducks, and geese brought out is enough for them to eat for a month, and a month's time is more than enough to solve the mutant beast problem outside — if it can't be solved, they needn't consider future matters anyway; they'll all end up buried in mutant beasts' bellies.

Late at night they didn't stay in the suburbs overnight; the family drove things to the city, making several round trips before the suburban move was complete.

When Shen Yao blearily opened her eyes, it was daylight; she still had to go to work.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao covered her head with a pained expression, went to the Planting Building with a splitting headache.

The Building was also very busy here; except for the newly sprouted crops that couldn't be harvested, all other crops couldn't escape.

Laboratory personnel made a rare appearance at the Planting Building; they wore white coats, expressionlessly commanding the Planting Building's people to organize things for them.

Shen Yao's fifth floor naturally couldn't escape; moreover, because Shen Yao had stayed in the ice-and-snow environment too long, her body showed a certain degree of frostbite.

Applied frostbite ointment, took two days' leave, and Shen Yao limped as she drove back to the city home.

Wei Father and Wei Mother rarely hadn't gone out; the two sat in the living room, heard the movement and looked up.

"What's this? Could the Planting Building be in chaos too?" Wei Mother walked to Shen Yao's side, a face full of conflict.

Hearing that "also" in her words, Shen Yao immediately asked where all was in chaos.

"Supermarket and mall — especially many people," couldn't even squeeze through.

Wei Mother complained they went out in the morning, spent two hours just to snag a few rolls of toilet paper.

"Fortunately our family's vegetables and meats are all self-prepared," otherwise not a bit could be bought.

Wei Mother sighed; the main thing was still being frightened by the Hope City residents' frenzy — simply a feeling that there's today but no tomorrow.

Wei Father went out with Wei Mother; he saw a bit more than Wei Mother, including the mall and supermarket's dwindling supplies and increased defensive forces — all indicating Hope City is guarding against internal riots.

"This mutant beast matter isn't small; can Chengyan stay together with Mingyu on that side?"

Wei Chengyan will definitely go to the front line — or rather, those children with special abilities won't hide in the deep rear.

Whether it's Rimu City officials or Hope City officials, they've all invested in them; when officials encounter danger, they need to reciprocate in kind.

"Mingyu said he'd make arrangements; the Officials won't need Chengyan and them for now," before it came to action, Wei Chengyan simply stayed at Home Presence waiting for Notification.

The Notification didn't take too long; when Wei Mingyu came home from Squad duty cold and stern, Wei Chengyan was picked up by him, and the father and son went directly to the Front line designated by the Officials.

No return date was left, nor were too many details given; Shen Yao saw them off, but she could only learn the general situation through the system.